SWC: Sweden round seven notes, results

Crump wins 12th GP, Rickardsson made to wait

Reigning world speedway champion Jason Crump returned to his explosive best at the Scandinavian GP in Sweden on August 13, spoiling Tony Rickardsson's planned re-crowning in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

The 30-year-old Crump brought up his 12th GP win, and his second in Sweden this year, with a superb victory in the four-lap Big Final over Andreas Jonsson, Rickardsson and compatriot Leigh Adams.

"That was just what I needed, it's been too long between wins" said an ecstatic Crump.

"This is the sort of night I should've had a while ago. The bike was great; we only used one all nigh and I made good starts which is something that I haven't been able to manage to often in the GPs this year.

"The final was pretty intense. I didn't draw the best gate but I got in front of Tony from the start and had to battle past Jonsson to take the lead. Once I got past him nothing was going to stop me!"

Crump's win saw him move onto 116pts, 47 behind Rickardsson (163), who will now have to wait until Poland on August 27 to join New Zealander Ivan Mauger on six world titles.

"Tony doesn't have to do much to take out the title but we have to start building for next year - and that started tonight," said Crump.

Meanwhile, Adams made a Big Final for the first time since round one, and he's now only 8pts (88 to 80) behind 2003 world champion Nicki Pedersen in the battle for fourth. The 34-year-old Mildura (Vic) rider moved into the Big Final after a second place in the opening semi-final behind Jonsson, while Crump defeated Rickardsson in the second last race of the night. The four riders who bowed out in the semi-finals were Tomasz Gollob, who anchored Poland to a resounding victory in the World Cup just a week earlier, Nicki Pedersen, Scott Nicholls and American Greg Hancock.

Among the riders to miss semi-final action at Malilla included Antonio Lindback, Bjarne Pedersen, Hans Andersen, Jaroslaw Hampel and Australian Ryan Sullivan, who only scored 5pts from his five heats. Sullivan (43pts), still remains in 13th position, while Jonsson was the night's biggest mover -- up from 12th position into ninth.

<pre> ROUND SEVEN RESULTS 1 Jason Crump, Australia 25pts 2 Andreas Jonsson, Sweden 20 3 Tony Rickardsson, Sweden 18 4 Leigh Adams, Australia 16 5 Nicki Pedersen, Denmark 10 6 Scott Nicholls, Great Britain 10 7 Tomasz Gollob, Poland 9 8 Greg Hancock, America 8 9 Bjarne Pede3rsen, Denmark 7 10 Antonio Lindback, Sweden 7 13 Ryan Sullivan, Australia 5

Current standings (after seven of nine rounds): 1 Rickardsson 163 2 Crump 116 3 Nicki Pedersen 88 4 Adams 80 5 Bjarne Pedersen 73 6 Lindback 66 8 Jaroslaw Hampel (Poland) 61 9 Jonsson 60 10 Nichols 58 13 Sullivan 43

-Motorcycling Australia